- Yes
- No
History and introduction
On 17 June 2024, the Eurosatory military technical exhibition opened in Paris. The German company Rheinmetall is a regular participant in this event, and each time it presents new developments of various kinds that are of great interest. This time the company paid attention to the direction of ground anti-aircraft systems and presented three unified samples of this class.
The third one (which are we going to speak about) was carried out on the chassis of the main tank Leopard 2A4. The higher load capacity of this machine allowed to use a combat module Skyranger 35 with a larger-caliber gun. The resulting self-propelled gun differs from the other two products by improved protection, higher range of fire, etc.
The turret was developed around 2004 year and reworked in September 2023 year for a present view.
Primary armament and turret systems
A mobile version of the Skyshield air defense system, it is based on a turret equipped with a 35 mm revolver cannon, based on the 35/1000 revolver gun. It can be elevated up to 85° with 360° rotation. The unmanned turret weighs 4.25 tonnes loaded and is controlled by two operators inside the vehicle
The cannon can fire single-shots, rapid single shots at 200 rounds per minute or at a maximum rate of 1,000 rounds per minute. It has an effective range of 4,000 m. Skyranger 35 vehicles have an integrated sensor suite, consisting of an X-band or Ku-band tracking radar with a range out to 30 km and an EO/IR camera with a laser rangefinder and automatic target tracking. The turret carries 252 rounds ready.
In September of 2023, a new version of the Skyranger 35 system was introduced with redesigned turret and Oerlikon AMMR active electronically scanned array search radar. This S-band radar has a detection range of 5 km for small drones and 20 km for fighter-sized aircraft.
Ammunition
It is capable of using a wide variety of ammunition
35mm HEI (DM11A1)
35mm AP (DM13)
35mm AHEAD (PMD 062)
35mm FAPDS (DM33)
35mm HEI (DM31)
35mm APDS (DM23)
35mm APFSDS-T (PMD 060)
Chassis and mobility
This vehicle have a standard leopard 2a4 chassis
So we have:
Engine: 1500 h. p MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine
Transmission: Renk HSWL 354
Top speed: 71 km/h
Weight: unknown
Sources
https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/brochure-download/Air-Defence/D742e0524-Oerlikon-Skyranger-35.pdf
Old Leopard tanks can be upgraded as air defense systems with the Skyranger 35 turret
Rheinmetall presents Skyranger 30 and Skyranger 35 on Lynx, Leopard 2 and Boxer at Eurosatory 2024
Rheinmetall from Germany Unveils Leopard 2 Skyranger to Replace Old Gepard Air Defense System in Ukraine
https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2024/06/20/zm-at-eurosatory-rheinmetall-equips-skyranger-35-anti-aircraft-artillery-system-on-leopard-2-tank-chassis/
Skyranger – Mobile air defence | Rheinmetall
